Jaffna Court orders inquiry into habeas corpus application

[TamilNet, Monday, 18 October 2004, 16:12 GMT]Jaffna High Court Judge Mr.K.P.S.Varatharajah Monday referred the Habeas
Corpus application filed by Mr.Kanapathipillai Velupillai seeking the
production of his son Mr.Velupillai Uthayakumar who was reported
disappeared after the arrest by Sri Lanka Army soldiers during 1996 period
to the Chavakachcheri Magistrate for preliminary and report, legal sources
said.

Six HC applications were listed for hearing in the Jaffna High Court
Monday and one filed by Mr.K.Veluppilai was taken up for
inquiry, legal sources said.

The petitioner cited two respondents, Lt.Colonel Mahinda Ratnayake,
then officer in charge of the Kodikamam SLA detachment during the period
1996, and former Jaffna area commander Major General Lionel Balagalle who later
became the Commander of the SLA.

Having heard the arguments by attorney-at-Law Mr.Appathurai Vinayagamoorthy
and the Army Legal Officer captain Kurupppu, the High Court Judge referred
the HC application to the Chavakachcheri Magistrate.

The petitioner was
further instructed to appear in Chavakachcheri Magistrate Court on November
12.

The inquiry into other five HC applications was put off for December
12, legal sources said.